A Model Based Reasoning (MBR) tool

Sörman Information is the leading developer and supplier of Model Based Reasoning (MBR) software. The unique RODON® software tool enables an effective and efficient engineering process for complex technical systems. Based on mathematical engineering data it computes optimal architectures, performs reliability analyses such as FMEA and FTA, generates diagnostic knowledge such as Compiled Models and Diagnostic Decision Trees (DTs) and it generates diagnostic results by applying interactive Model Based Diagnostics (MBD) or Compiled Model Based Diagnostics. All these results are achieved in a highly automated process.

RODON is a Model Based Reasoning (MBR) tool. Consequently, whatever one does with RODON is centered around the Virtual Product Model (VPM). It reflects the basic RODON philosophy that there is one technical system – represented in the model –, however, many different views on it – represented in the software modules and packages either helping to generate or to analyze the model. This is expressed in the figure on the left.

The solution

Time to market for new products decreases ever more due to the global competitive pressure. A company’s market share depends largely on its capability to satisfy the ever increasing customer requirements with respect to functionality and reliability. The shortened development times and the increasing complexity of the products - as indicated by the significantly increasing electrical and electronic content - may lead to difficulties if not handled appropriately.

These problems ask for new, integrated solutions to support the engineering, manufacturing and maintenance processes. The basic problem is that all parties involved – from product definition all the way to maintenance – work with the very same product, however, under very different points of view.

RODON, as a MBR and functional analysis software is our answer to this dilemma. It allows to perform optimization, simulation, reliability analysis, monitoring and diagnosis for complex technical systems based on one model. As such it supports the engineers throughout the product life cycle from preliminary design and system optimization via detailed design and reliability analyses all the way down to manufacturing testing and maintenance.

Contribution to the life cycle

The RODON software tool enables an effective, highly efficient and innovative engineering process based on mathematical models and methods for the synthesis and analysis of the functionality of complex technical systems. Based on a Virtual Product Model (VPM) RODON covers different analytical tasks during important phases of the entire life cycle of technical products – from design capture functions via high level system optimization and executable specifications – both supporting engineering, via reliability analyses supporting quality assurance, to diagnostics supporting both, manufacturing as well as service operations.

The Virtual Product Model evolves along the phases with respect to both, granularity and functional and diagnostic details. The Figure above depicts RODON’s contributions to the various phases of a product’s life cycle.